The three of us walked through the forest to Illtimina's village.

"Are you okay, Sol?
Hmm.

　The little girl looks somewhat sleepy as her sister takes her by the hand.

　Xixi.

　The gesture of rubbing her eyes with her little hands was so cute, like a little animal.

　I couldn't help but laugh.

　And then...

........

　Pain shot through my feet as I stepped out onto the ground.

　--again.

　I feel like the inflammation that was all over my body was aggravated by the effects of using the 'divine Qi' when I was helping Solstice.

Using the 'Fairy Sword' as a wand, I managed to follow the sisters.

''?　Merle?

　Noticing my condition, Illtimina-san turned around.

'What's wrong with your leg?'
Nope.

　I blurt out.

　I didn't want people to think that I was in bad shape to save my own sister.

"..........

　Her beautiful crimson eyes stared at me.

　Then she nods, "Yeah," and starts walking forward again.

　Zach, zach.

　But that walking speed was a little slower than it had been.

(.... oh...)

　I knew she was Illtimina, I thought.

　Seven years ago, young or not, her kindness that I know is the same as it was seven years ago.

　........It makes me want to cry.

　Iltimina-san, the girl who was parting the grass and trees and avoiding the branches, asked me, looking forward.

'Hey, Marle-kun?'
Hmm?
'Didn't you grow ears and a tail, Merle, when you saved Sol's life?　What the hell was that...?

　........oh.

(Come to think of it, I transformed without thinking about it.)

　Even in this other world, transformation is an unusual thing.

　But the adult Illtimina-san was accepting, and I saw her and the girl in front of me as the same being. So without thinking too much about it, I just transformed into her.
　Of course, I was also preoccupied with saving Solstice.

'Oh, um...'

　Lost for an answer, I stammer a little.

　Illtimina-san glanced back at me.
　And then.

If you don't want to answer the question, I'm fine.
What?
Everybody has things they don't want to say. I don't have to ask. --You've helped me and Sol out. That's all I needed.

　He smiled so maturely.

(............)

　The girl in front of me was a 'demon(⋅)blood(⋅)people(⋅)'.

　I narrowed my blue eyes and smiled.

''Thank you, Illtimina-san.''
Nope.

　The girl shook her beautiful dark green hair and shook her head.

　Then, a little troubled.

And Merle?　You don't have to put a 's' on me, okay?
What?
You can call me whatever you want.
..........

　Call me by my name?

Illtimina...?

　For some reason, that felt very embarrassing.

　But it was true that we were the same age now, and I didn't want to say no to Illtimina-san herself if she wanted to, because I felt like she would think I was rejecting her herself.

　So I called her out boldly.

''I, Illtimina........''
Yes, sir.

　A happy Illtimina.

(Ugh.)

　I'm so embarrassed that I turn bright red.

　Ms. Illtimina gives me a surprised look, and my cheeks blush faintly, as if my heat has been transferred to her.
　And then she scowled.

　That was also cute.

''Woo~?''

　The little girl Solstice was looking up at me and my sister with such embarrassment and wonder.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　We walked through the woods for the next half hour or so.

　The view, surrounded by green trees, was no different.

　The only thing we could see from the forest was that the blue mountains were getting bigger, so we knew we were walking in that direction.

(Is there a village in those mountains?)

　I guess so.

　And at about the same time, I

!

　I noticed that the 'scent of people' other than us was approaching.

　Katja.

　He stops and puts his hand on the hilt of his sword.

'Mr. Marl?'

　The little girl, Iltimina, turned around.

　The little girl, Solstice, holding my sister's hand, was rubbing her eyes and looking sleepy.

　I don't answer, and I'm wary of my surroundings.

(...not alone.)

　The scent is multiple.

　It's pretty close - and yet, there's no people anywhere in sight.　

　Why?

　Just as I thought that, a leaf fell from above my head.

(!)

　Up!

　The moment I noticed, I looked up and multiple men fell from above my head.

　Zang, zang, zang.

.....

　There were five of us who fell.

　They probably came across the tree tops - one of them landed between me and my sisters, and they easily split us up.

　And then I was surrounded in an instant, and the aim of the bow in their hands was turned on me all at once.

　--I didn't even have time to draw my sword.

　All five of them wore green cloaks that seemed to blend in with the forest.

　The younger ones were in their twenties and the older ones were in their fifties.

　The only equipment they all had in their hands, other than the bow, was a dagger held at their waist.

(.........Are they all hunters?)

　I thought about that, considering the lack of signs until I was approached.　

　Then I raised my hands in the air to show my non-resistance.

'Are you safe, Irna!

　With an arrow pointed at me, one of the men standing in front of me calls out to the sisters on his back side.

　The sisters are surprised by the suddenness of this.

　The little girl who was asleep seems to have awakened from her sleep.

'Father!

　Iltimina's popping voice.

(....)

　With surprise, I look at the man in front of me again.

　His age, maybe in his thirties.

　His hair was the same dark green color as Illtimina's, and his face was well-groomed, similar to Illtimina's.

　She was tall, and although her body was slender, she was well-muscled where you could see it.

　And his face, which normally must have a gentle appearance, and one would think so, but now he was holding the bow and arrow in his hand while being tightened sternly with a strong sense of caution.

　The four people around him have the same wary look on their faces.

''We would have forbidden you to go deeper into this forest, Irna!　Why did you come in?

　A sharp choking voice.

　Illtimina-san cowers her shoulders in a jerk.

''I'm sorry. Sol chased a butterfly and........

　In contrast to her frightened sister, Solstice didn't know what had happened and scowled~.

　Iltimina's father frowned.

　Staring at me.

'As a result, he was seen by people outside. It's not a situation that can be overlooked, even for a child...　

　Just in time.

　The arrows are drawn.

　Mr. Illtimina went pale.

'No, stop, Father!　Marle, you risked your life to save me from being attacked by wolves and Sol from almost falling into the river!
!

　He is surprised by his daughter's plea.

　The other four men look at each other.
　Then, as if in judgment, I looked at Illtimina's father.

　He looked at me.

　It was the same crimson eyes as Iltimina-san and Solstice.

''...Are you sure?''

　Low voice.

　Cock.

　I nodded silently.

　Then, I slowly thrust the 'fairy sword' in its sheath forward as if to show them, and opened its fingers.

　Crunch.

　The sword falls to the grassy ground.

'If you don't believe me, you can kill me.
..........
'Illtimina believed in me, a stranger. So I won't resist either.

　I told her that as I stared back at her with my blue eyes.

　Illtimina-san looked at me in surprise and immediately called out my name as if to appeal, "Father!

　He kept his bow at the ready, a slightly lost expression on his face.

　The air is tense.

　I kept my hands up to the side of my face and waited for the verdict.

　Hoooo.....

　A gust of cool breeze passes through the forest and through us.

'....Huh.

　He exhaled heavily.

　Then he lowered the bow he was holding and looked at the other four, making them lower their bows as well.

'I see. Looks like you've done a rough imitation of your daughters' benefactor.
..........
I'm sorry. Please forgive me.

　So I bow my head.

(............)

　Well, thank God.

　I was dressed up, but to be honest, I was scared shitless inside.

　I'm so glad I didn't get shot....

　I hid my real feelings from him.

I'm fine. I don't mind.

　I lied to her with a flat face.

　The girl, Illtimina, held her hands on her breasts, which had grown beyond her years, and let out a big breath of relief.

　Then she looked at her father.

Father. He has suffered a physical injury to help us. I would like to take you to the village, but ... no?
...hmm.

　He makes a distressed face.

　The other four, 'Are you sure?' She looked at him with a look of hesitation on her face.

'Okay.'

　He nodded.

'I must repay the favor. Besides, I can't just let you go home now that you've been seen either way.
Father!

　Illtimina looks happy.

　But considering the nuances of the words, I wondered if I could be honestly happy.

(Well, I can't help it.)

　That village must be the 'Hidden Village of Demon Blood'.

　Tote-Tete.

　At that moment, a little girl, Solstice, innocently walked over to me. A small hand clanked on my arm.

''Maal~?　It's nice, right?

　........................
　Haha.

'Yeah, I guess so.'

　I laughed and patted its head.

　I looked over and saw that the five adults were laughing too.

　The air was melting harmoniously. Oh no, it's as good as Solstice.

　Iltimina's father picked her up and

Yes, Sol. --Well, I'll show you to the village. This way.

　After saying that, she starts walking at the front of us.

　Then, Iltimina-san squatted down, picked up the 'fairy sword' that had fallen and handed it to me.

''Yes, Marle-kun.''
Oh, thanks.
'Nope. ....More importantly, I'm sorry, I'm sorry to surprise everyone in the village.
No, I'm fine.

　I laughed and shook my head.

　She nodded reassuringly, "Yes," and held my right hand in her white left hand.

　It's as if - just like that.

　I was surprised.

So, will you come with me, Merle?

　She gave me that gentle smile.

　Then, 13-year-old Illtimina-san starts walking with me in tow.

　In front of her, the father of the sisters holding Solstice with one hand leads me, followed by the four hunters in the back.

(............)

　It was a very strange feeling.

　I don't know if this is really the world of seven years ago, or why I am here, or anything else.　

　But still, this feeling is so undeniably real.

(...What kind of place is the village we are heading to now?)

　As I walked forward, I looked up and silently stared at the mountains in front of me, towering under the blue sky.